FARMERS and those who support them were treated to a good day out at Kilnsey Show.

Harry and Phyllis Orton, of Hopperton near Knaresborough, have been coming to Kilnsey Show for more than 20 years.

The couple raise and used to show Limosin cattle and also have shown sheep.

Mrs Orton, who was watching the cattle judging, said: "We've been coming for years now. We thoroughly enjoy the day out, whether it's raining or not."

The Rice family, George and his two sons, Stephen and Daniel, from Carlton near Yeadon, also come to Kilnsey Show every year.

Their hard work with a British Blue earned them the Upper Wharfedale Silver Challenge Trophy, which is awarded to the supreme beef champion.

Daniel called the award a great accolade because "the quality of stock here today is the best we've seen all year."

Daniel said his brother and father, who also showed the supreme beef champion at Kilnsey in 2008, all "muck in" to prepare their livestock for showing.

"There's a lot of time and dedication needed," he said. "It's a great lift when you win because it means your hard work has paid off."

John Slack, of Newby, came all the way from Cumbria to watch his son, Neil Slack judge the commercial beef.

He said: "There were a lot of entries and the standard was pretty good in the beef classes, but I was disappointed because there not many dairy cow entries."

"The dairy cattle entries were down by a third," said Kilnsey Show chairman Robert Lambert. "That's because are hardly any dairy producers left in the region. In the Upper Wharfedale valley, there used to be 20 dairy farms, now there are two."

Daniel Rice believes that Upper Wharfedale is "very much a beef and sheep area".

And Easingwold farmer, Charles Marwood, who won the Upper Wharfedale NFU Cup for best sheep in show, was very surprised that his Charollais shearling ram received the top prize in the sheep classes.

"It's pretty much a hill breed that wins at Kilnsey," said Mr Marwood. "It's the show's third year for exhibiting Charollais. I came here to help them get these classes off the ground."

Mr Marwood, who described the show as fantastic, enjoys the surroundings and speaking with farmers in the area.

"When you come up here, you're among sheep men," said Mr Marwood.

Peter and Pauline Giles, of Otley, are members of Kilnsey Show and several other shows around Yorkshire.

"Whatever the weather we come," said Mrs Giles. "They work so hard, so we've got to support the farmers."

The couple, who enjoy the setting for Kilnsey Show, are also very supportive of and enjoy watching young handlers show livestock.

"They're our farmers of tomorrow," added Mr Giles. "We need to look after our junior farmers."

Katherine Croft, and her 10-year-old daughter Tilda, came from London to visit Kilnsey Show.

Visiting Tilda's grandma who lives in Hawkswick, the pair had a look around the sheep pens.

"We've been coming here since Tilda was a baby," said Mrs Croft. "She got around then by using the sheep pens to help her stand up."

"I like the sheep," said Tilda. "There are so many different kinds."